Published by City Farmer, Canada's Office of
Urban Agriculture

How to Start a Community Garden in
Philadelphia

There's a weedy, nasty vacant lot in
your neighborhood. You meet with your neighbors. You've all seen
community gardens around town and decide you want one. What do you do
next?

Call Neighborhood Gardens Association/ A Philadelphia Land
Trust 215-988-8800. Ask for "How to Obtain Permission to Garden on a
Neighborhood Vacant Lot". NGA can also help you negotiate a lease with
the owner (if necessary) or even acquire the land for yourselves (if
you're interested).

Figure out the street address(-es) of the
lot by looking at the addresses of the houses around it. You'll need the
exact address of the to get on with the process.

Get the owner's
permission.

Call Philadelphia Green 215-988-8800. They may be able
to help you with things like fencing, soil and tools.

Call Penn
State's Urban Gardening Program 215-471-2224. Garden Advisors and Master
Gardeners bring you great advice and publications on everything from
organizing your gardeners to building fences with recycled lumber.